Well-meaning Nigerians have donated at least one million naira on behalf of ex-inmates Ismail Lasisi and Lukman Adeyemi, who spent 24 years in prison for the ritual killing of a woman they knew nothing about.

In an emotional interview with The Punch, Lasisi and Adeyemi shared their harrowing experience. They were arrested and detained in August 2000, they were sentenced to death in 2009.

Adeyemi, who had housed Lasisi after a fallout with the prime suspects, was arrested with his friend when they visited a police station in Oyo State, following police inquiries about Lasisi.

In a surprising twist, the herbalist arrested in connection with the murder was later released by the police. But another suspect who was said to be innocent reportedly died under torture.

“They promised to stop the torture if I confessed to the murder and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I lied against myself to prevent further torture”(Sunday PUNCH)